HELP!! Corvette 327?? 1963 C10

[Brandons63]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum.. I am building a 63 Chevy c10. The truck was rescued from a jungle of a back yard. I payed a whopping $200 for it. It's my dream truck and I'm trying to bring it back to life. The original 292 was locked up, and pulled to determine the cause (boroscoped the cylinders and pulled the side cover and pan off, everything looks new.. Maybe a timing chain?) anyways while the motor was out I had the opportunity to purchase a Chevy 327 that came out of my bosses 1931 ford roadster (payed $500) He was told by his grandpa that built the car, that the motor was pulled from a 65 vette. It was pulled from the roadster to restore it back to original. Anyways, I'm trying to decode this motor to find out what I have for sure... Numbers are as follows
Block casting:3782870
Block stamped VIN on passenger side FWD of head: FII24HA (what's interesting about this number is that the first "I" has smaller lines on top and bottoms than the second "I").
Head casting: 3774692 date code F11
The intake manifold I do not have a number for at the moment, but it is a two barrel with a Rochester 2 Jet. This and the heads are what's confusing to me. Please help me out! Thanks guys

[Brandons63]

When I first got it

[Brandons63]

Same day after an acid bath

[Brandons63]

327 installed in front of the Muncie 4 speed

[Brandons63]

Another motor pic.. This thing is beautiful inside. Cylinders, heads, valves, crank. Everything is very clean and tight. Cylinders look freshly honed. It had been sitting a while after pulled from the roadster so I went through and did the rear main seal and a one piece pan gasket.. The factory 4 speed and bell housing wheat together smooth, dropped right in after locating the passenger side motor mount perch, manual clutch was easy to hook up after getting the block mounted ball stud for the z bar. The one thing I did have issues with was the clutch friction disk and pressure plate.. I got an 11" clutch kit that came with the short throw out bearing ( the original 10" maybe 10 1/4"??) Used the long bearing but the pressure plate fingers on the new clutch were over twice as tall. After getting it all together the clutch pedal would depress half way to the floor before the bearing made contact. There was plenty of adjustment to make it feel right. The motor runs and idles very very well. It does need timed once I get some exhaust figured out. Had to find the ram horn manifold for it with the center collector ( they had goofy manifolds on it while it was Hooked to the ford. Passenger side was a center exit and drivers was a front exit that ended up right above my motor mount) it's just too load to start and run to time. The alternator bracket was another fun one. Went through a couple to find one that worked well. Ended up with a lower drivers side mount that tucked it between the block and frame. It was $19 on eBay. Works well, and is hidden. Next struggle will be the fan.. I used the four blade clutchless off the 292. I think it will work ok if I find a shroud to fit. Anyways...

[VictoriaHardware]

That is a Flint, Mi assembled '870 block which did come in Corvettes. That stamping was done by Flint Engine Assembly Plant. If it had been installed into a Corvette by the Vehicle Assembly Plant in St Louis, it would have the vehicle VIN stamped there as well.

[Mathew21]

Welcome to the forum. Your truck cleaned up great. I'm curious you say you cleaned it up with an acid bath what exactly did you do?

[Brandons63]

VictoriaHardware: thanks for the info. What still confuses me are the heads and 2BBl manifold.. These cant be factory can they? I understand the F makes it a flint assembled motor and the 870 makes it a 327.. But weren't these motors used in impalas, Cameros, etc.. too? The casting decodes to a '65 so obviously it's not a camaro motor, and the HA suffix on the stamp indicates it was from a 65 full size/camaro. So this is what gets me.. I just want to verify it is 100% indeed from a corvette, and what the factory HP rating was, what's up with the heads and manifold.. Thanks for the info! Look forward to getting more feedback!

Mathew: I've been using this acid for about a year, on anything I can find. This stuff is truly amazing. It makes chrome and aluminum look like brand new. You wouldn't believe it until you saw it with your own eyes.. It's called Pro Wash Acid Cleaner. What I do for paint is mix it 10:1 with water and spray with a garden sprayer over the entire vehicle. Then when I get back to the starting point I quickly swap the sprayer for a garden hose or pressure washer and rinse the vehicle. For glass and chrome I mix it 4:1 and do the same thing. No scrubbing. For aluminum I mix it about 5-6:1 spray it on, wipe with a microfiber (wearing gloves) then rinse. The results are amazing. And it only costs about $20 a gallon. I even used it on my new vinyl windows at home where the sprinkler system would hit it and leave them cloudy and scalely from our hard water, and it made them look new without harm... Even after trying every trick in the book and using expensive abrasive liquids meant for the task with no avail...I also used it on the interior of the pickup.. Dash, glass, headliner.. Made it all look amazing, and it really brought out the patina that was hiding..

[Mathew21]

Originally Posted by Brandons63

Mathew: I've been using this acid for about a year, on anything I can find. This stuff is truly amazing. It makes chrome and aluminum look like brand new. You wouldn't believe it until you saw it with your own eyes.. It's called Pro Wash Acid Cleaner. What I do for paint is mix it 10:1 with water and spray with a garden sprayer over the entire vehicle. Then when I get back to the starting point I quickly swap the sprayer for a garden hose or pressure washer and rinse the vehicle. For glass and chrome I mix it 4:1 and do the same thing. No scrubbing. For aluminum I mix it about 5-6:1 spray it on, wipe with a microfiber (wearing gloves) then rinse. The results are amazing. And it only costs about $20 a gallon. I even used it on my new vinyl windows at home where the sprinkler system would hit it and leave them cloudy and scalely from our hard water, and it made them look new without harm... Even after trying every trick in the book and using expensive abrasive liquids meant for the task with no avail...I also used it on the interior of the pickup.. Dash, glass, headliner.. Made it all look amazing, and it really brought out the patina that was hiding..

Thanks for the information. I'm going to pick up some and try it out.

[VonDog]

The heads are from a 60-67 283 sb with 1.72/1.50 valves. I have a 350 with a 327 4bbl intake and oddball heads but she runs good. No telling without #'s.

[Brandons63]

I agree with what you are saying with the 283 but I've also decoded 3774692 to early 60's corvette power pack heads... But from my research this was before '65. It runs good the way it is, it's just for some reason I'm being picky about the motor.. If it is from a corvette, I want it dressed correctly

[VonDog]

Maybe the intake is off a 283??? What about the exhaust manifolds? If they're original to the motor, that could possibly give you the vette #'s. My bad too - the #'s I pulled for the heads (3774692) were from a 58-64 283 and the block # showed to be a car or truck 2 bolt main.

[padresag]

Originally Posted by Brandons63

VictoriaHardware: thanks for the info. What still confuses me are the heads and 2BBl manifold.. These cant be factory can they? I understand the F makes it a flint assembled motor and the 870 makes it a 327.. But weren't these motors used in impalas, Cameros, etc.. too? The casting decodes to a '65 so obviously it's not a camaro motor, and the HA suffix on the stamp indicates it was from a 65 full size/camaro. So this is what gets me.. I just want to verify it is 100% indeed from a corvette, and what the factory HP rating was, what's up with the heads and manifold.. Thanks for the info! Look forward to getting more feedback!
.

that eng has been around for 50 years, in various vehicles and hands. basically it is just a sbc. whether it was in a corvette or a chevyll doesn't really mean much unless you are doing a restoration. manifolds and heads bolt on. pistons and cams are interchangeable. I guess what matters is what you want it to be so that you can use it
somebody stuck the 2 barrel carb on it because they more than likey wanted the 4 brl for something else or what ever else was on it.
ron

[Larry64]

Brandon where did you buy the acid wash?

[Brandons63]

This is pretty obvious information. For personal satisfaction I would like it to be correct. I still have hope that a corvette guy might be able to make something of the vin.. This is my first project truck, and new to Chevy (mechanical background is in helicopters and cummins diesels) so I'm not sure what info the vin will tell me, but I have hopes!

[Brandons63]

The acid wash was purchased from a local auto detail supply distributer. I've looked for it online, but didn't find much. If you head to your local new car dealerships, they usually have an acid wash ( sometimes they will acid wash new cars before they sell them if they have been sitting on the lot a while getting rinsed now and then and not dried properly) or check with a detail shop or semi truck wash. I went to the Chevy dealership and they gave me a sample in a water bottle, then when their distributer came by, I bought a gallon off his truck. Hope this helps? If you can't find it, you can call Lefty's distributing (509) 924- 4883 and leave them a message. They can probably ship it to you. This is where I bought mine.

[Brandons63]

I guess I should open a new forum for acid cleaning so we can stay on topic?? Haha here is a picture of the product I use.

[aerotruk63]

Can you provide more detailed pictures of your truck. Like to see your spotlight especially inside and out, please.

[aerotruk63]

The cancelling cam was unique to 63 but you can get one from a 60-66 that will work. If your going original, then you can rid of the aftermarket turn signal unit.

[Brandons63]

I will get you some pics tonight. thanks for the interest! This is a fun project

[Brandons63]

Awesome, thanks for the info, I bought a large amount of parts for the truck in bulk from a guy.. There was a couple steering columns in with it. That's on the project list, and the aftermarket one is already removed. The pics I've posted are all from about a month ago, so not quite up to date. I'll post more pics.. Also if anyone needs any parts, I have a bit of selection.. I have lots of brackets, wiring harnesses, vents, fender cowls, emblems, right fender patch panels, horns, headlight bezels for a 62, gmc dual headlight bezels with chrome, disk spindles, door panels, radiator support brackets, gauge cluster trim, passenger side engine frame perch for the v8, hood latches and hinges.. Etc etc...

[aerotruk63]

Make a list and sell them in the parts section.

[Brandons63]

On the turn indicator.. The original stuff is still there, but someone had cut the wiring and broke off the indicator handle. I'm assuming the broken handle was why they installed the aftermarket.. Who knows. But I have another handle.. Just have to find a wiring diagram. They also had additional tail lights mounted to the rear they used as the blinkers.. But the factory lights still worked.. Just didn't blink.. It's Strange the route some people take..

[aerotruk63]

Link to a wiring thread:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=5357153

[patrickk1]

Almost every Chevy I have ever purchased I was told the motor was from a corvette. I always took it with a grain of salt. 95% of the time, they weren't corvette engines. Those heads did not come on that motor from the factory. Someone probably threw them on there to bump up the compression.